Tea at the San Francisco Peace Treaty (Japanese)

Introduction to the Tea Ceremony (Japanese) Featured in a movie: "Japanese War Bride" (Japanese) Tea at the San Francisco Peace Treaty (Japanese) Passing on the motto of the Way of Tea into the next generation (Japanese) The hand-made Tea house (Japanese) Recognition as a National Living Treasure (Japanese)

Transcripts available in the following languages:

(Japanese) It was during the San Francisco Peace Treaty—again, traveling as an associate with the 15th iemoto, Hōunsai—that we performed the tea ceremony for three days at the deYoung Museum in San Francisco. In Japanese Tea, there is a phrase called "wakei-seijaku" (translates to "harmony, respect, purity and tranquility"): for what reason does one make tea? Tea is about harmony. Of course, you need to have the proper respectfulness, and then, there is "seijaku". Something that is pure and tranquil. The motto of "wakei-seijaku" is what unifies all of these qualities together. This is what the Tea Ceremony represents. We performed the Tea Ceremony all over the world, just as we did at De Young Museum during the Peace Treaty, as a call for world peace. I remember that Prime Minister Yoshida came to one of the big opera houses in San Francisco. So much was happening, it felt as if I were dreaming. It was so wonderful to be able to proudly demonstrate a Japanese tradition in such a great setting, in the grand country of America—it filled my heart with joy.

Date: December 19, 2005
Location: California, US
Interviewer: Nancy Araki
Contributed by: Watase Media Arts Center, Japanese American National Museum

Chado san francisco tea ceremony